ETHICAL STANDARDS AND ACADEMIC PROGRESSION IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between ethical standards and academic progression within the University of Calabar. It aims to understand how ethical practices—such as academic honesty, fairness in evaluation, respect for intellectual property, and responsible conduct in research— impact both student advancement and faculty development. The research adopts a correlation research design approach, utilizing questionnaires and interviews to gather data from students, lecturers, and administrative staff from a sample of 2800 staff of the university. Findings reveal that while the university has policies promoting academic integrity, issues such as examination malpractice, plagiarism, and favoritism still pose challenges to fair academic progression. The study concludes that a stronger ethical culture, supported by consistent enforcement of regulations and awareness programs, is essential for promoting academic excellence and institutional credibility. Recommendations are made for enhancing ethical education, policy implementation, and institutional accountability.